When it comes to plumbing issues, many renters and homeowners don’t think twice. It’s simply pick up the phone and call the most trusted name in Raleigh area plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing. We certainly agree with your choice of plumber…especially in a situation which calls for our help! However, becoming the “most trusted” plumber around is a name that we earned and take very seriously! Thus, we would like to share some pointers for situations where you could easily take care of the issues at hand. Therefore, here are eight easy, Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips that if following the directions below, you should be able to tackle yourself.

Do It Yourself Plumbing Tips to Silence the “Noises and Creaks” 

We have all heard them. A strange creak that at first, we are unaware of its source. Well, one of the sources of those “creaks,” we can tell you is plumbing related. The good news is, not only is it an easy fix but with our Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips, you will be able to silence that creak in no time!

Silencing the Pipes

To first explain, the “creaking” comes from hot water running through copper pipes. This causes the copper to expand and when it does, the pipe grinds against the pipe hangers and joists. The easy Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips to rectify this problem are as follows.

First, get some adhesive-backed felt at a nearby hardware store. Next, you cut that felt into strips. Once strips are ready, wrap them around the “noisy pipe.” In the meantime, you will want to remove each pipe hanger and wrap the pipe with the felt tape. Finally, once wrapped, you can refasten the hanger….and you can say goodbye to the unwanted creaky sounds!

Keeping Your Sink Quiet

Yet another “noisy” plumbing issue is one that occurs and originates underneath your two-basin stainless steel sink. As anyone can attest to with this type of sink, there can be the issue of somewhat loud vibrations and the “gong” effect. Not to worry though, as this also is an issue that should be no problem for you with our Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips. Basically with this issue, you will only need a can of expanding foam.

Once you have the foam, you will use it to fill the space between the two sides of your stainless steel sink basins. You can do this when the sink has already been installed, but the procedure is a bit easier to do if you “do the filling” before installation. Once you allow the foam to harden, then trim away any excess with a knife. By filling the space, the foam works once expanded to deaden the vibrations, while it absorbs and lessens the “gong” like sound also.

More Tips to Help “Drain, Flush, and Empty” a Situation

Whether it’s your toilet, sink, a trap or pipes, if there is a clog or an obstruction, your end goal is the same. Clear it through. Again, as stated above with the “noisy” issues, there are certainly times when a clog is going to warrant a call to the pros at Poole’s Plumbing. However, in the three following situations, you will be able to take these Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips to literally “clear” the issues up yourself!

Vacuum that Toilet

As already discussed, any type of obstruction in your pipes, whether the sink, toilet, or anywhere in your home, could lead to a major plumbing problem. Almost by instinct in these cases, we always reach for the plunger first, to try and knock loose and clear the clog. But, in the case that the plunger can not clear it through, there is a good chance you are looking at a more solid or hard object that is causing the problem. In actuality, without realizing it the plunging may push this type object deeper than it was at first.

Once again, this is no reason to fret though, as all you need in many cases is a wet/dry shop vacuum. Start by sucking any water out of the area with the obstruction. Then go in deeper and many times you will find whatever object is stuck will be sucked out by the power of the vacuum.

Plunge the Trap for Less of a Mess

The curved pipe located under your sink is commonly known as the “sink trap.”Over time, the traps can get plugged up with soap, hair, and other debris. This could lead to a huge mess if allowed to get out of hand and left unattended. Regardless of whether you are just emptying the trap or changing it, this is going to be a somewhat messy job. With another of our helpful Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips, you can at very least, lessen the mess, though.

Once again, the advice here will have you utilize a common item in the home, a plunger. Simply give your drain a few plunges before pulling the trap. This will at least remove any water from the trap, which will immediately make the job a bit less messy. Do remember, however, if you have a two-sided sink, cover/plug the other drain to contain the air pressure while you plunge.

The “Flush Bucket”

The final of our Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips is one that would more than likely take place when you are already having a plumbing project take place. To put the situation into perspective, let’s say that you have the Raleigh professionals from Poole’s Plumbing set to work on your toilet. So, you would turn off the water supply before they begin their work. This would create a situation where you can not use the toilet, as there would be no water in which to flush it, right?

Well, not necessarily, as with the next of our Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips, you can still get a few uses from your toilet even in this spot. All you need to do is before shutting off the water supply, fill several two-gallon buckets with water. This way, you can flush the toilet by dumping the water into the bowl. While it won’t refill after the flush, this will still work just the same for the one flush that you would need.

The most trusted name in Raleigh area plumbing, Poole’s Plumbing is always the top choice for your plumbing emergency or project. However, the relationship we have built and trust we’ve earned over the past twenty years with our customers is how we became that way. That being said, we are always happy to come out and fix any plumbing issues you may have. But, if we can save you the headache and some money with these Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips, then we are equally as happy to pass along our knowledge.

Initially part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnership program, the WaterSense name and label has become synonymous with water-efficient products and conservation.

This will be the first in a series of articles on “green plumbing.” In our series of posts, we will look at the benefits of green plumbing and answer many questions and ‘myths’ that most wonder when discussing the topic.

Above all, in this series, we will look at how you can conserve and save: both to help the environment and your wallet. Our first post will focus on “WaterSense.”

Looking Beyond the Label: The “Why and What” is WaterSense?

We have all seen the half green and half blue waterdrop carrying the WaterSense name. While most vaguely know the symbol to be associated with conservation and environmental consciousness, few look further than that.

To get the official WaterSense description from epa.gov, the website explains the following.

“The WaterSense label makes it simple to find water-efficient products, new homes, and programs that meet EPA’s criteria for efficiency and performance.” The website continues, “The WaterSense label makes it simple to find water-efficient products, new homes, and programs that meet EPA’s criteria for efficiency and performance.”

“WaterSense partners with manufacturers, retailers and distributors, homebuilders, irrigation professionals, and utilities to bring WaterSense to your community. Our partnerships encourage innovation in manufacturing and support sustainable jobs for American workers.”

Partnering Up to Fulfill a Mission and a Vision

The EPA had a vision upon initial discussions of WaterSense. It also came about with a mission to accomplish. Likewise, these are both also discussed in detail at epa.gov.

The WaterSense mission statement is one that has remained true since the initiative first launched in June of 2006. It is as follows. “We are transforming the marketplace for products and services that use water, and promoting a nationwide ethic of water efficiency to conserve water resources for future generations and reduce water and wastewater infrastructure costs.”

Consequently, the initial vision of the Summer of 2006 remains the same and plays off of the mission statement. The ‘WaterSense’ vision is that “all Americans will understand the importance of water efficiency and take positive actions to reduce their water use. In their homes, outdoors, and at work.”

How can WaterSense Equal Water Savings???

Again referring to the official EPA website, the following “Water Stats” explain how much ‘sense’ that a switch to these products actually makes.

• WaterSense labels products that are 20 percent more water-efficient and perform as well as or better than standard models.

• The average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs per year by replacing all old, inefficient toilets in their home with WaterSense labeled models.

• Replacing old, inefficient bathroom faucets and aerators with WaterSense labeled models. This can save the average family $250 in water and electricity costs over the faucets’ lifetime.

• Replacing showerheads with WaterSense labeled models can reduce the average family’s water and electricity costs by $70. Likewise, this can save the average family more than 2,700 gallons of water per year. This is equal to the amount of water needed to wash 88 loads of laundry.

• Giving a home’s main bathroom a high-efficiency makeover by installing a WaterSense labeled toilet, showerhead, and faucet aerator. These savings can pay for itself in as little as 1 year.

• Replacing a standard clock timer with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller. This can reduce an average home’s irrigation water use by 15 percent. It also can save an average home nearly 7,600 gallons of water annually.

As mentioned above, this is the first post in a three part series to familiarize you with green plumbing. For more information on WaterSense, and products bearing its name on their labels, visit their website at epa.gov/watersense.

The Raleigh professional plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing are now offering the “World’s Most Intelligent Water Security System,” Leak Smart.

In the following series of posts, we will focus on the incredible Leak Smart home water protection systems. The company’s official website leaksmart.com describes it’s system as follows. “Leak Smart provides a complete system of smart home products to protect your home from potentially catastrophic water damage even when the power and Wi-Fi are down.”

Home Protection to the Next Level with a Storied Past

To understand the current and future of home water protection systems, one first must turn to the past. This age-old adage applies to the Leak Smart brand as well, with a legacy of over 85 years of providing bathroom and kitchen hardware.

In explaining the origins, of Leak Smart at their official website the following is explained. “Our story begins with Waxman Industries.” The “Our Origins” section at leaksmart.com begins.It goes on to detail the Waxman Industries history leading to the introduction of this product, as well as bathroom and kitchen waxhardware products and accessories for nearly 85 years.”

“You may not have heard of Waxman before,” the post continues. “but you’ve certainly used one of their products.”

The Mission: Protecting Home and Family

Leak Smart has become the “safety net” and “protector” from water damage for businesses and families alike. According to its official website, the company’s mission statement is as follows.

“At Leak Smart, we are on a mission to protect every home and family in the world from catastrophic water damage caused by devastating leaks and floods.”

The most trusted name in Raleigh NC plumbing, Poole’s Plumbing are an authorized dealer and installer of LeakSmart. This is the first article in a series that will detail “The World’s Most Intelligent Leak and Flood Protection System.”

For more on all the services offered by Poole’s Plumbing, visit poolesplumbing.com.

Keeping the drain clear in your sink or bathtub  is important for many reasons and you can do this with very little effort. In addition to avoiding a mess, these tips below can help avoid running into costly and dangerous situations. The problems that could arise from a clogged drain range from unpleasant odors to getting pesky drain gnats. With the following Unclogging Drain Home Remedies from Poole’s Plumbing you can “do-it-yourself” and steer clear of issues.

This post will continue as the second in our three articles on clogged drain issues. Sure, everyone knows of the products that can be bought to clear a drain. These may work, but in some cases can add to a problem, however. Thus, our Unclogging Drain Home Remedies are a safe alternative that usually can eliminate the problem.

Identify Early and Keep a Constant Watch

While this may seem obvious, the importance and savings it could lead to make it worth stating. Consequently, if you notice buildup starting or that your drain is becoming clogged, always address the issue as soon as possible. The quicker that Unclogging Drain Home Remedies are used, the more likely it is the clog is kept clear.

Of course, as noted above, there are many chemicals and solutions that can be bought over the counter to tackle a clog. However, these powerful chemicals can also be harmful. Not only to those in your house breathing them in, but also you must be sure of the amount you use. Sometimes, too. much of these chemicals can harm the actual plumbing/pipes in the clearing process. These methods as opposed to the Unclogging Drain Home Remedies below, might result in damage. Thus, these methods are best if tried after those listed below.

What Unclogging Drain Home Remedies Should I Try?

Contrary to popular belief, keeping your drains clean and clear is really a simple process that can be done at home. Just a few minutes of your time every few days can make a world of difference. The following are three Unclogging Drain Home Remedies that you can do using household items.

Baking Soda/Lemon Juice Mixture

Each of these simple Unclogging Drain Home Remedy find you taking one basic action. That would be pouring some safe mixture down the drain in hopes of breaking up the clog. This first mixture simply calls for first, putting a tablespoon of baking soda down the drain. Immediately follow that with a 1/4 cup of either lemon juice or vinegar and let this set for 30 minutes. Once the half hour is up, run hot water down the drain to be sure it has cleared through.

Salt Water Mixture

Just as the above Unclogging Drain Home Remedies instruct, this again has you pouring an easy to make mixture into the drain. Use a strong, amount of salt mixed with hot water for this concaction. Again, after letting it sit, follow this up with a steady stream of hot water. This will keep grease from building up in your drain. Likewise, it will help to eliminate odors also.

Over-the-Counter Chemicals/Solutions

As stated earlier, yes, if not used correctly, these can be more damaging than helpful. However, if used appropriately and in the case that the first two suggestion here don’t work, store-bought solutions may be the answer. Available at basically any supermarket or grocery store, these chemicals would be the last suggestion in “do-it-yourself” remedies. If you do not see the drain becoming unclogged at this point, it is best to call a professional. In calling a professional, the most trusted name in Raleigh plumbing, Poole’s Plumbing will be able to come and analyze and then clear your drain issues in short order.